Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Nintendo Announces Raft of New Games, 3DS Details

Posted by Soulskill on from the stealing-the-show dept.

Nintendo gave a keynote presentation at E3 today, showing off a wealth of upcoming titles for the Wii, the DS, and the 3DS. Shigeru Miyamoto started things off by demonstrating Legend of Zelda: The Skyward Sword for the Wii, due out next year. While playing it, you hold the Wii Remote and Nunchuck like a sword and shield, and swing naturally at enemies. There's also a bow and arrow, a whip, and a flying bug you can control to go drop bombs on enemies. Nintendo also briefly showed an NBA Jam game, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, and a new set of party games that uses the Wii Remote in unusual ways — for example, multiple players balancing it to disarm a bomb, or seeing which player can be the first to pick up the right controller from the table. Continuing on, they revealed GoldenEye 007, a long-awaited successor to the popular N64 game, due out this holiday season. It will feature split screen play, online multiplayer, and several different game modes. Next, Disney came out with a presentation on their upcoming Epic Mickey game. In it, Mickey can interact with the world using paint and paint-thinner, effectively adding onto or removing objects and characters. In addition to the 3D environment, there is also a part of the game that exists as a sidescrolling platformer, with levels based on classic cartoons. Read on for more about Metroid, Kid Icarus, Metal Gear Solid, and the 3DS.

A major theme for Nintendo's presentation was the arrival of classic franchises on new systems. This includes a new Kirby game for the Wii, entitled Kirby's Epic Yarn. It's a sidescrolling platformer with a new art style based on a yarn theme, and it's due out this fall. In sharp contrast to Kirby's cartoony graphics was Nintendo's next presentation on Metroid: Other M, which had visuals in the same vein as other popular shooters, showing Samus fighting her way through intricate 3D stages to fight some nasty-looking alien monsters. Other M was given a release date of August 31. Just in case that wasn't enough nostalgia for you, they next showed a new project from Retro Studios: Donkey Kong Country Returns. It's (another) platformer, but with its own unique style and feel, and it's planned for the holiday season.

From there, Nintendo shifted its focus to the upcoming revision to their portable console, the 3DS. Since it's impossible to show the 3D effect on stage, they contented themselves with showing off software and features, but they also brought a massive amount of test consoles, so you can expect to see hands-on reports coming out in a day or two. The 3DS has a slightly larger screen on top — 3.5" instead of 3" — and the bottom screen is a touchscreen. There's an analog nub, an internal gyro-sensor, and a 3D slider, which will control the level of depth you see on screen. You can turn it to maximum, turn it off, or anywhere moderate level of depth in between. There are two camera lenses on the back, which will allow you to take photos in 3D. In addition to the 3D effect, they've also made more standard improvements to the graphics hardware, which has apparently impressed some of the developers working on games for the 3DS. They also briefly touched on the 3DS's communications capabilities. Apparently it will silently look for updates, new maps, ghost data, rankings, and more regardless of what game you're playing, communicating over Wi-Fi or through connections with other nearby consoles.

Headlining the software side of the 3DS was the announcement of Kid Icarus: Uprising, another return to a very popular franchise of old. Granted, it's tough to judge a game by its trailer, but the graphics looked extremely good for a portable system. Nintendo said that in addition to games, the 3DS would play 3D movies as well, though details are sparse as to what will be available and how. But their real concern was the perception that the system would have too few games to interest customers, so they went out of their way to list a bunch of developers and game projects that are targeting the new system. The list is really, really impressive: Kingdom Hearts, Resident Evil, Assassin's Creed, Metal Gear Solid, DJ Hero, Saint's Row, Madden, FIFA Soccer, Nintendogs + Cats, Ridge Racer, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Mario Kart, Star Fox, and more.

43 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. But I'm lazy..... by commodore64_love · · Score: 2, Insightful

    >>>"you hold the Wii Remote and Nunchuck like a sword and shield, and swing naturally at enemies. "

    Can't I just hold my controller and tap a button, like I did with Zelda Twilight Princess?

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    1. Re:But I'm lazy..... by KDR_11k · · Score: 4, Insightful

      My mouse doesn't have haptic feedback on whether I've moved the cursor to the right spot, my eyes tell me that.

      Besides, even with a standard controller hitting a button is no guarantee for a specific result, many games require proper timing on button presses and if you mess that up you also get a crap result.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    2. Re:But I'm lazy..... by antibryce · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I wish I could mod you up. The feedback on the wii controllers really makes the system useful. I sort of thought it was a gimic but it really does make it feel like you're more in control. natal/kinect just feels like you're flailing about wildly.

      I expect Sony's system will outperform Kinect for precisely this reason.

    3. Re:But I'm lazy..... by scot4875 · · Score: 3, Funny

      it would be terrible there is a reason why I'm not a sniper in real life, I don't like holding my arm at an angle for extended periods of time in a single spot.

      I think the appropriate meme here is "you're doing it wrong."

      --Jeremy

      --
      Jesus was a liberal
    4. Re:But I'm lazy..... by scot4875 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      How asinine is that scenario? Why don't you also include one where someone breaks both of their thumbs?

      If motion control is bad, in your opinion, you don't need to invent stupid scenarios like that to illustrate your point. If that's the best argument against them that you can come up with, then maybe your opinion isn't very well-formed.

      --Jeremy

      --
      Jesus was a liberal
  2. The 3D effect is disappointing. by supersloshy · · Score: 2, Informative

    According to Kotaku, the effect completely fails if you move out of its small window of effectiveness. So much for playing the game in a truly portable way :\.He goes on to mention that the 3D camera on the back works excellently and was a joy to use, however, and I can definitely understand that.

    --
    "Our country is not nearly so overrun with the bigoted as it is overrun with the broadminded." -Archbishop Fulton Sheen
    1. Re:The 3D effect is disappointing. by LordVader717 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's not like you look from the side while playing a handheld for fucks sake. It's a one-person experience, and simply relaxing your hands naturally will give you the right position.

    2. Re:The 3D effect is disappointing. by supersloshy · · Score: 2, Informative

      Read the whole article. His own words, at the very bottom, sum it up: "It's Astounding".

      Keep in mind you are looking at a product that is literally months away from hitting retail, possibly even a year. Same thing with the games. If you expect it to be perfect upon its initial unveiling...

      However, if you take the article in context,

      The effect is astounding. I took a picture of the woman who had the 3DS padlocked to her waist. She's smiling and has her hands up. The hands feel like they're popping out of the screen, behind the room just goes on and on.

      He was talking about the 3D camera, which I mentioned in my original post:

      He goes on to mention that the 3D camera on the back works excellently and was a joy to use, however, and I can definitely understand that.

      --
      "Our country is not nearly so overrun with the bigoted as it is overrun with the broadminded." -Archbishop Fulton Sheen
    3. Re:The 3D effect is disappointing. by Darkness404 · · Score: 2, Informative

      There is a difference between a lot of Apple design complaints and that of Nintendo. Of course 3D effects aren't going to be perfect because they haven't been tried yet. Secondly Nintendo is known for some pretty low price hardware and making a profit off of it. Nintendo isn't going to release a $300 handheld or a $500 console. On the other hand a lot of the complaints on Apple have been things that you could have added in software, simple hardware fixes, etc. If I was paying $500 for a console I'd expect to have things like HDMI and such built in. For a $250 console in 2006? Not so much...

      --
      Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
    4. Re:The 3D effect is disappointing. by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why do I get the feeling Nintendo fans and Apple fans have a lot in common?

      Because you disagree with him but can't quite get a bearing on how to phrase that?

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  3. What 3d tech? by modemboy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So every article I've read so far has stated that Nintendo is mum about the technicals of the 3d system, there is no indication of what 3d system it is using.
    But this is Slashdot, surely someone must know?
    I would guess it uses a lenticular lens, but would love to see some more details...

  4. I'll give it to Nintendo by elrous0 · · Score: 2, Informative

    They may not make the most muscular systems, but they know how to do family fun (and milk franchises until they scream). I would definitely have a Wii if I had kids. But I would feel a little silly as a grown man playing a Mario or Kirby game.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 5, Insightful

      But I would feel a little silly as a grown man playing a Mario or Kirby game.

      Why?

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    2. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by commodore64_love · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Some of the best games are "kiddie" games.

      I don't own a Wii, but I still dust-off my old Mario64 or Banjo-Kazooie or Skies of Arcadia games, and play them from time-to-time. I'd rather play those than play something "realistic" but boring.

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    3. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      You no man. Man like shoot. Gun good. Explosion good. No use brain. Brain for weak.

    4. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by Chris+Burke · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But I would feel a little silly as a grown man playing a Mario or Kirby game.

      Heh.

      There was a brief period where I felt insecure about playing video games with bright colors and only cartoon violence.

      Then I grew up.

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    5. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by Darkness404 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Exactly. Hell even the Pokemon games are fun RPGs from time to time. Who cares if there isn't anybody having their head decapitated, Nintendo games are still incredibly fun. There are only so many FPS games you can play without getting bored of the entire genre for a time. On the other hand, playing through Nintendo's classic library is incredibly fun. I'd take Yoshi's Island with "cute" drawn graphics and solid gameplay over a repetitive murderfest any day.

      --
      Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
    6. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Because I'm a grown up. There are games that are targeted at kids and games that are targeted at adults.

      And there are games that are targeted at all ages. You're missing a category.

      And Nintendo have strongly favored (not exclusively, but strongly) the former.

      No, they haven't. They favor the E-for-everybody. There's a big difference and that's why Nintendo has been enormously successful. The sad thing is, the things that make a game more 'adult' are the things that mostly appeal to the crowd that cannot really be called an adult yet. "I spent all night running over hookers!"

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    7. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by nine-times · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think some of these games are more like Pixar films: designed to be kid friendly, but entertaining for all ages.

    8. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No, we'd feel just as silly, but a different kind of silly. At that point you'd be a grown man impersonating his teens instead of a grown man impersonating his childhood.

      All I was doing is joining in the poking fun of a big grown hairy man playing the cutest pink blob in the video game world. It does tend to imasculate a grown man. In the same way playing Gears of Halo Duty makes you feel like a bigot who screams fag at the TV anytime you die.

      Despite what some people may have told you, there ARE games out there that are more geared towards adults, that don't fall into either of the two categories you described. Both Colourful and serious, some even with adult oriented content

      *COUGHHACKWHEEZESNEEZEMASSEFFECT*

    9. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by seebs · · Score: 4, Interesting

      When I was ten, I read fairy stories in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.

      -C. S. Lewis

      --
      My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
    10. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by Toonol · · Score: 2, Informative

      God forbid somebody sees you watching a Pixar movie, right? They might think you're not all grown up.

      You're deliberately isolating yourself from rewarding experiences out of insecurity.

    11. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by TheSpoom · · Score: 2, Funny

      If you can, then you’re A LOT more childish than me.

      BUT: I’m not judging.

      Errr...

      --
      It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
      - E. Debs
    12. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by KDR_11k · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Mario doesn't require you to relate to its characters, unlike Sponge Bob. What Mario does is gameplay and going by review averages he does it better than anybody else. With a movie the story and characters are the important elements but with a game they can be completely irrelevant, what's important is how you interact with the game and Mario games deliver challenges that are appropriate for adults (in fact some called Galaxy 2 TOO hard). No, there's no adult story in there but the lead producer made sure nothing like that went into the game, it's a barely interrupted stream of great creative gameplay experiences and story would only have bogged it down.

      Now Kirby could be below your level as an adult, while there's practically zero story to Kirby games they are designed for gaming newbies and often have very low difficulty, considering someone visiting Slashdot Games probably has significant gaming experience under his belt the low difficulty would leave us bored.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    13. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by spinkham · · Score: 3, Interesting

      There's exactly one "adult" game I've enjoyed more then Mario and Zelda: Bioshock. It did have a great adult story, the creepy wasn't overdone for it's own sake, all in all one of the best games of any type.

      If you check on Metacritic, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 have higher scores then *any game ever released on PC*. The only game that outscores them on any platform is Grand Theft Auto IV(which I've never played).

      If you're too insecure in your own gender identity to enjoy Mario, that's up to you. Plenty of grown men think it's a good time though. Just out of curiosity: Have you actually played Super Mario Galaxy?

      --
      Blessed are the pessimists, for they have made backups.
    14. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by scot4875 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      A real man doesn't give a shit about what other people think about his hobbies, and doesn't need to play games with a lame, predictable story and some "adult situations" to feel like a grown-up.

      --Jeremy

      --
      Jesus was a liberal
    15. Re:I'll give it to Nintendo by guyminuslife · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I think you're confusing "adult" with "adult-only." Plenty of the things that we enjoy as children are still enjoyable as adults. (Granted, not everything.)

      A lot of people, in their preteen and teenage years, distance themselves from from the stuff we liked as kids. Probably because there's a lot of social pressure not to be seen as childish, and so to stay away from things that are marketed to children or as being "family-friendly." I know I had a phase when I thought that if a movie wasn't rated R, it probably wasn't worth watching. I still like most of the movies I liked back then, but since then I've rediscovered, say, Disney movies.

      This idea that you must make a Sin City style game to appeal to adults is patently ridiculous. The 40-year-olds, if they're buying a console, are all buying Wiis, and not just for their kids. The people who won't touch a good game because it's "kid stuff" are mostly insecure adolescents.

      --
      I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
  5. Re:Wait... by commodore64_love · · Score: 2, Informative

    Worldwide sales figures
          1. Wii - 70.8 million
          2. X360 - 40 million
          3. PlayStation 3 - 35.7 million

    PS3 has about much chance of beating the Wii, as the Gamecube/N64 beating the PS2/PS1 consoles... it's fallen way behind. It's possible 2nd place will end as a tie, like the previous generation did (Xbox/Gamecube were statistically even), but I don't think either the 360 or PS3 will ever catch up to the Wii. The best they can hope for is a solid 2nd place.

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
  6. Re:Wow by V50 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I don't think their keynote last year sucked. There they announced New Super Mario Bros Wii, Mario Galaxy 2 and the big surprise, Metroid: the Other M.

    You might be thinking of the 2008 keynote which had Wii Music and not much else. That one certainly failed, but I don't think the 2009 one did.

  7. OMG MGS3 3DS WTF by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 4, Funny

    I find it highly ironic that the MGS game that the 3DS will have features a main character with no depth perception.

    (Taking a revolver shot to the eye does that).

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
  8. Nintendo Still Rules by MBCook · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There's a reason Nintendo is still in the video game industry 25 years after releasing the NES.

    Microsoft: We have a camera, like the EyeToy, but newer! And a quieter console! And a copy of WiiSports and some other games.

    Nintendo: New system! New DonkyKong! Pilotwings! Metroid! Kid Icarus! Nintendogs! GoldenEye! Massive 3rd party support! Zelda! Mario Sports! Kirby!

    As I type this, Sony is just getting their conference started. If they had any hopes of getting some thunder, they're in deep trouble. Short of announcing some really compelling games for the Move and an introductory bundle price of $40 (not going to happen), they won't top Nintendo.

    PS: That PSP Sony keeps claiming isn't dead? The one the PSP Go was supposed to show was "still in the game"? If the 3DS isn't the final nail in it's coffin, nothing will be.

    I watched the ArsTechnica live coverage. Just about everything they announced, I wanted. The one exception was WiiParty, but I'm sure there are tons of people who will buy it.

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    1. Re:Nintendo Still Rules by Pojut · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The primary difference is that, overall, there are FAR more people that are FAR more nostalgic about NES franchises than Xbox franchises.

      Do not ignore the power of nostalgia or childhood experiences, especially when the topic is gaming.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    2. Re:Nintendo Still Rules by MBCook · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That was not my intent. My intent was "Microsoft is releasing a copy of what Nintendo did 4 years ago, Nintendo is releasing new games (based on old friends)."

      It was meant to imply a lack of innovation and big exclusive releases. I don't mind that Nintendo uses the same characters over and over, because they tend to make each game it's own, special. They don't do a ton of "add a new map, +1 the number, sell a ton." They add some innovation and do it once a console cycle.

      As a 360 owner, I'm not excited by Natal/Kinetic. I don't have a ton of space for dancing around on camera, and I'm not interested in paying $150 for the ability to do so. If there was one or two big games that really showed what it could do, then I might be interested. As it is, they seem more like the EyeToy demo "games" that were released. It's fine if MS can prove me wrong, but I would have wanted to see that at the press conference. Basically, they don't seem to have shown much more than they did a few months ago.

      If I was making the "Microsoft is just releasing old games again" thing, I would have made a comment like "What, no Halo 14?".

      Nintendo is going their own way. Sony and MS seem to be aiming at where Nintendo was 2+ years ago.

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    3. Re:Nintendo Still Rules by antibryce · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I don't think nostalgia has much to do with it as this point. I loved the NES/SNES and still own both, but I look at nintendo's newest stuff I don't see much in common other than it's great for casual game play. There will always be more casual gamers than hardcore gamers, so nintendo will always come out ahead. There's a reason MS and Sony are trying so hard to compete with the Wii, because they have the hardcore gamers and there's no where for them to go now.

      the playstation was released in 1994, and I don't see nostalgia helping the PS3 any.

    4. Re:Nintendo Still Rules by Narishma · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's actually what a Sony guy said a few days ago when asked about the PSPGo. He said it was an experiment and they learned some lessons from it, like people wanting physical media instead of downloadable only.
      Here's the link: http://kotaku.com/5558693/sonys-lessons-learned-from-the-pspgo

      --
      Mada mada dane.
  9. New consoles by pak9rabid · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Isn't it a little strange that none of the big console makers (Sony, MS, Nintendo) havn't announced plans for a next generation console? I mean christ..how long have the current-generation consoles been out for now..4 or 5 years?

    1. Re:New consoles by Pojut · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Normally yes, but with these 7th gen systems, not really. The hardware has obviously not been maxed out yet, as console games have been getting more complicated and looking better each year since the big three were released. I think we will see announcements for new consoles next year, or at the very least some "leaks" regarding them.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
  10. Re:Wait... by CastrTroy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Even if you don't win, you can still do pretty well as a company. Nintendo did very well (in terms of profits) during the GameCube era, even though they didn't have a very high volume of sales. Outside the console market, you see this all the time. Apple sells nowhere near the majority of the market in many of their products, yet the company as a whole is doing very well. The only reason why it's important for Sony and MS to sell the most consoles is because they're relying on licensing sales for games to make up loses on the hardware. For Nintendo it's not so much of an issue, because they've built a simpler machine they can sell at a profit, and also because they make quite a few very popular games, which they also make quite a bit of money from. I think that Nintendo is pretty profitable, even without relying on the licensing fees paid for by other game vendors.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  11. Re:Franchise? by hansamurai · · Score: 2, Informative

    Kid Icarus had a sequel on the Game Boy and the Kid Icarus character appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and in the tv show Captain N.

    --
    Reviewing just the first hour of video games.
  12. Re:Wait... by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2, Informative

    Wireless is probably cheaper than the 4 discrete plugs and 2 discrete flash connectors the Cube had.

    The Wii has those connectors, too.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  13. Re:No just rehashes of old shit again? by RichiH · · Score: 2, Insightful

    > That's just marketing speak for "We're way too pathetic to have the balls to go with something new

    So I take it you have never seen Super Mario Bros. 1, 2 & 3, Super Mario Land, Super Mario World, Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, New Super Mario Bros and Super Mario Galaxy 2? That, or you are just making shit up to be righteous.

  14. Re:No just rehashes of old shit again? by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If you believe that - then argue the point, seriously!

    I didn't really feel the need to, the point had already been made.

    I just really question the logic there.

    Okay, fine, I'll tell you the bit you need to hear again: "So I take it you have never seen Super Mario Bros. 1, 2 & 3, Super Mario Land, Super Mario World, Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, New Super Mario Bros and Super Mario Galaxy 2?" Seriously, that's the winning phrase. The only thing I'd add to his point is to suggest you play the first 3 Sonic games then play the first three Mario games. Heck, play Mario 64, then Mario Galaxy, then play GTA3, then GTA4. The Mario games are similar only on a superficial level. You're always going to be confused about that until you sit down and play the games.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  15. Re:Wait... by Inda · · Score: 2, Funny

    Worldwide dust thickness:

                1. Wii - 7mm
                2. X360 - 4mm
                3. PlayStation 3 - 3mm

    --
    This post contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.